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Chelsea seek turnaround as they eye last-16 spot

London, Nov 19, 2012, Reuters:

Holders Chelsea need to show the resilience that brought them success last season, rather than the recent failings they have shown in the Premier Lea­gue, if they want to reach the last 16 of the Champions League this week.

With two matches to play former champions Manchester United and Porto and impressive newcomers Malaga are the only teams mathematically certain of qualifying, although the make up of the first knockout round will become clearer this week.

UEFA use a complicated head-to-head and mini-league tiebreak system to work out the final rankings instead of goal difference, meaning uncertainties about who qualifies can last until the final kick of the final match.

Chelsea will also go through on Tuesday if they win their Group E match against Juventus in Turin, sealing their place in the last 16 for a 10th successive season. But Roberto Di Matteo's men travel without a win in their last four Premier League games and reeling from a surprise 1-2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday when defensive lapses cost them the points.

"For some unknown reason November seems to be a bad month for this club," the Italian told reporters.

No European champion has failed to get through a group stage since the Champions League began but if Chelsea lose in Turin they will be in danger of becoming the first to do so. Chelsea's most important victory in recent weeks came two weeks ago when they beat Shakhtar 3-2 at Stamford Bridge with a last-gasp header from Victor Moses sealing the points and making qualification more likely.

Their domestic form has been poor with only two points from 12 in their last four games, but at least their Champions League prospects are far brighter than those of English champions Manchester City.

City rose to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season with their 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Saturday yet their Champions League form has been dreadful, losing at Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam and only drawing at home with Dortmund and Ajax last time out.

They are bottom of Group D with just two points, behind Borussia (8), Real (7) and Ajax (4). Captain Vincent Kompany is at a loss to explain their failings in Europe.

Real have a long-enduring European rivalry with Manchester United going back to the 1957 European Cup semifinal, but had never met City before until this season and will head to the Etihad on Wednesday as favourites.